idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft
Establishing “Männerschuppen” as community meeting places for men aged 50 and older in Germany is the goal of the new “Männerschuppen” project at the University of Bremen. The project is now supported by the European Social Fund. In addition, new guidelines for planning and implementing “Männerschuppen” are available.
Many community programs tend to reach women and are often unappealing to men in terms of both tone and content. This also applies to programs focused on health promotion and prevention. To address this issue, “Männerschuppen” (literally “men’s sheds”) first emerged in Australia and are places where men over 50 gather for shared activities such as repair work and woodworking. In Bremen, the pilot project “MARS – Men’s sheds as Places of Prevention and Health Promotion in a Municipal Setting for Men Aged 50 and Over” (“MARS – Männerschuppen als Orte der Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung im kommunalen Setting für Männer ab 50 Jahren”) investigated the health effects of men’s sheds and how the concept can be adapted to Germany. A team at the Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, led by Professor Karin Bammann, established and supported eight men’s sheds in northern Germany for this purpose.
The experiences gained from MARS led to the creation of the German guide “Männerschuppen – Ein Leitfaden für die Planung und Umsetzung von Männerschuppen in Deutschland” It is aimed at municipalities, associations, and volunteers who wish to establish their own men’s sheds. The guide explains the concept behind the sheds, outlines what to consider when selecting premises and activities, and describes how internal organization among participants can be structured.
Another key topic is organizational and financial realization. The guide explains the spatial and legal requirements that must be met, how health and safety can be ensured, and what funding opportunities are available. It also offers tips on how to establish and promote men’s sheds in the long term. Interested parties can download the guide now at https://www.uni-bremen.de/maennerschuppen.
Research on the topic of men’s sheds has been conducted at the University of Bremen for several years. Now, the University of Bremen is receiving funding from the European Social Fund and the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth to establish additional men’s sheds as places of lifelong learning in northern Germany. The MARS+ project will launch on April 1, 2026, and run for two years.
Oliver Bock
Men’s Shed Research Area
Epidemiology of Demographic Change Research Group
Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research (IPP)
University of Bremen
Email: maennerschuppen@uni-bremen.de
https://www.uni-bremen.de/maennerschuppen/ (only available in German)
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